My name is Ester, I’m 21 years old and I’m from Madrid, Spain. I will be a new author on the blog. 
I’ve been studying English since I was 5 years. I would be very grateful If you could correct my mistakes.. I’m here to share with you the culture of my country, or my view of the country.
I’m doing my teacher training. I love music, dancing, and singing. I like to watch HIMYM, The big bang theory and Glee.
So, Let’s start… Today you will learn about the holidays and celebrations in Spain. Let’s go month by month
January
The 1st January is New Year Day, and we usually eat with the family.
The 5th January takes place the cabalgata de los Reyes It is a parade of floats symbolizing the coming of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem. In Spain is the day when gifts are exchanged. it’s very special for children cause there are a lot of toys for them, and presents for the adults, of course.
February
14th we celebrate St. Valentine’s day. It’s up to the couple how they celebrate it: with a present, with a surprise, a dinner. Some people find this day materialist.
Carnival:
such a colorful party, with costumes and parties everywhere. Children dress up at school. There are a lot of parades, and contests. Our best Carnival is Cadiz’s Carnival: where they have a contest of chirigotas. each chirigota create a song with humor about national news. An example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5zQhBnCzXg
March:
Las fallas: (10th-19th) It takes place in Valencia. Each neighbourhood of the city has an group of people, that works all year long and produces a construction known as a falla which is eventually burnt. Is a festival in commemoration of Saint Joseph.
Easter: Each city and town has its own accent on its celebrations. They all differ but in common 
they all colour, culture, music, all with a very religious meaning. Everywhere, processions make their way through the streets, carrying religious icons and symbols of their faith. Seville has the most beautiful images and there are over 100 of these images.
April
La feria de abril de Sevilla, a huge party with the stereotypes of Spain(flamenco and toros)
May: Worker’s day and San Isidro(local party in Madrid. There is a festival. People dress up like chulapos/as. Chulapos and chulapas are the real citizens of Madrid, those whose families have lived in Madrid for generations. In the local festivity of San Isidro on the 15th of May the get dressed with these typical costumes)
July:
The festival of San Fermín (7th-14th July) in the city of Pamplona, The festival starts by setting off the pyrotechnic "chupinazo". End at midnight of 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mi. Its most famous event is the encierro, or the running of the bulls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFK-A4uTw4s
August:
La tomatina: is a festival that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol. The participants throw tomatoes and get involved in this tomato fight purely for fun. The festival has its origin in a street fight in 1945. 
In August every town has his own religious festivals, and verbenas.
October:
El dia de la Hispanidad: celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, It’s a national holiday and also the Day of the Armed Forces celebrated each year with a military parade in Madrid.
Halloween: not very common, but some people dress up, and go to the pubs to have some fun.
November:
All Saints' Day: people often go to cemeteries to make flower offerings
December:
Dia de la Constitucion Española: 6th December. Is a holiday in Spain and various events are held in honor of the 1978 constitution.
22th December: It Is not a holiday, but If you have a ticket you could win one of the biggest prizes of the National Lottery ”El Gordo”. The whole country has the hope to win a prize.
Christmas Eve. We have dinner with the extended family and we 
play to some table-games
Christmas: we exchange the presents that Santa has brought us.
New Year’s Eve: We have dinner with the closer family, and at midnight we eat 12 grapes. Then we drink champagne. the young people, from age 18, usually go out with their friends after midnight
We don't have any typical food for those dates. Some roast in the oven, potatoes, ...
I hope that you like my post!:)
Thank you for sharing your culture, Ester. My students will send you their comments, questions, and corrections sometime this week by commenting on your post. You did a great job!
ReplyDelete¿Cuál es su favorito para celebrar?
ReplyDeleteNavidad, porque tambien celebro mi cumpleaños. Veo a la familia más días, y se vive la ilusión de intercambiar regalos. Este periodo es muy emocionante si hay niños en la familia.
DeleteAdemás las calles están preciosas con los adornos.
Hola Ester,
ReplyDelete¡Me gusta leyendo y su gramática era bueno!
¿Tiene que ir La Tomatina? ¿Te divertiste?
Hola
DeletePues la verdad que no he podido ir nunca a la Tomatina, porque siempre coincide con las vacaciones de mi madre, y viajamos a algún sitio. Pero realmente me gustaría ir parece muy divertido.
Hola Ester,
ReplyDeleteSu inglés es muy bueno! ¿Por qué usted comer doce uvas a medianoche en Nochevieja?
Hola!
DeleteGracias Logan :)
El origen de esta tradición es de principios del siglo XX hubo unas muy buenas cosechas de uvas, y decidieron darles salida. Ahora seguimos comiendo las uvas, y la tradición dice que si no te las comes antes de que terminen las 12 campanadas tendras mala suerte el proximo año.
Hola Ester, tu gramática es muy bueno. Mejor que mi español. ¿Por qué se queman la falla?
ReplyDeleteGracias!
DeletePues mira se queman todas las fallas como acto de purificación, y renovación, para que se marchen los males de la sociedad. Las fallas suelen (no todas) ser monumentos creados para criticar y ridiculizar algunas situaciones, al quemarlas se expresa el deseo de que desaparezcan.
No se queman todas, cada años hay fallas seleccionadas en distintas categorias, que piensan que no deben acabar en el fuego. Cada falla, se tarda en diseñar alrederor de un año.
Hola Ester! Tu ingles es muy bien! ¿tienes participar en La tomatina?
ReplyDeleteHola!No estoy segura de si me preguntas: Have you ever participate in La Tomatina? You and Beth said the same structure: Tienes...so I guess it is Have...
Deleteso, as I wrote to Beth: No he participado, pero me gustaria mucho.
Hola!No estoy segura de si me preguntas: Have you ever participate in La Tomatina? You and Beth said the same structure: Tienes...so I guess it is Have...
ReplyDeleteso, as I wrote to Beth: No he participado, pero me gustaria mucho.
Hola Ester!
ReplyDeleteMe gusta la tomatina! Quiero traer!
Ester,
ReplyDeleteYour English is very good, one correction where you wrote the date, we understand what you meant but we would write it as December 22nd for example. Great job.
Hola Ester, me llamo viki (victoria en realidad). Que burra he sido, siempre pense que la tomatina era en Francia... ¿Sabes de donde nace la tradicion? ¿Con las crisis guerras etc no hubo modificaciones? ¿Los tomates estan podridos o hacen salsa despues? (broma)
ReplyDeleteMe llama la atencion el festejo del descubrimiento de america. Cuando yo era chica se festejaba como un dia patrio desfiles militares y conmemoraciones varias. Desde hace unos 10 años eso cambió y ahora se llama Dia de la diversidad Cultural y se reinvindican las culturas originarias y las colectividades inmigrantes. Se hacen desfiles de cada grupo etnico o de nacionalidades y como en todas las fiestas comemos comidas tipicas je
Me gustaría conocer España, especialmente el sur. Tendrias algun link con fotos?
Saludos desde Argentina
¿Cuándo se suele ir de vacaciones?
ReplyDeleteEste fue un mensaje muy informativo! :)